University College London

Welcome to UCL UCU

UCU is the trade union and professional association representing
university staff across the sector, formed in June 2006 by the amalgamation
of AUT and Natfhe.

UCU is UCL’s recognised trade union for lecturing staff,
research staff, administrators, computer staff, librarians, and
related staff grades. PhD students who carry out teaching duties
can join on a special rate.

UCL UCU is a large trade union branch with over 1,600 members.
Some of our members have permanent ‘core funded’ positions,
while others - mainly research staff - are on what
UCL refers to as “open-ended contracts on fixed funding”.

In short, if you are employed at UCL, teach, research or support,
but are not currently a member of UCU, we would encourage you to
join.

Staff
on clerical and manual grades should join UNISON,
those on technical and scientific support roles, UNITE.
We support our colleagues in the other UCL trade union branches,
and encourage all college workers to join their appropriate trade
union.

Victory - Statute 18 'reform'

LATEST: Provost
agrees to formally retract SMT proposals.

New UCL Provost, Michael Arthur, agreed to withdraw UCL SMT proposals
to 'reform' Statute 18 at the Academic Board on 23 October 2013.

This Statute is a constitutional document that protects academic
staff from arbitrary redundancy, and thereby provides a level of
protection for academic freedom of inquiry, dissent and speech.
UCL SMT wished to abolish this statute in favour of allowing managers
to dismiss academic staff without the same procedures.

The withdrawal of these proposals in the face of overwhelming opposition
from staff at all levels within College, and supported by UCU in
a two-year campaign, represents an important victory against those
who would see our Universities as mere commercial enterprises rather
than academic communities.